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There has again been a relatively high percentage of positive
reactions to the primary Schick Test, but this is fully explained by
the fact that the big majority of children attending still come from
homes that may be classed as above average.
Though many injections in older children have been given at
weekly intervals, it has been thought advisable to spread out the
course to fortnightly and even 3-weekly attendances in the youngest
children where the basic immunity is lowest and the response to
immunisation slowest.
Again it is only by Schick Test subsequent to Immunisation
that it can be ascertained that the state of immunity has been
reached, and such testing has been a routine measure in all cases.
It has, moreover, been welcomed by all parents, when the situation
has been explained to them.
The interest of the Head Teacher in certain Schools appears to
exert a marked effect on the attitude of parents towards this branch
of preventive medicine, and where the Medical Officer or Health
Visitor attending a particular School have gained the confidence of
the Head Teacher, leading to an understanding of the advantages
of closing the door to Diphtheria, the demand by parents has invariably
increased.
Small School epidemics have added to the numbers brought
forward from these particular Schools, in two cases this demand
arising after two years of almost complete apathy.
Finally the impression that children under 5 years are too
young to be immunised appears to die hard. The sooner immunisation
is effected after about the second year of life the better as the
risk of reaction is less, whilst between 2 and 12 years of age is
the most susceptible period of a child's life to infection. Table III
gives a summary of the results obtained.
Classification of those attending the Immunisation Clinic.
Definite School Cases 1,620
Definite Welfare Centre Cases 310
Under 5 years, but not sent from I.W. Centres 232
Nursery School 5
Adults 10